StepmotherArchetype

The Stepmother Archetype
Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and Hansel & Gretel are all fairy tales that the majority of us are familiar with. We may remember them from our childhood, read them to our children or watched the animated versions made popular by Walt Disney. When reflecting upon these tales, there is a common theme that arises among them. Can you think of what each of these have in common? Who is the villain in each of these stories?

It was the stepmother or surrogate mother. __The image of the evil stepmother occurs frequently in fairy tales, in which she has consistently been presented, throughout history, as jealous, cruel and immoral. This universally accepted stigma associated with stepmothers is a mythological archetype__.

The stepmother is rarely shown in a positive light. She is repeatedly revealed to be the villain. Her actions are generally self-centered and often motivated by jealousy or greed. Snow White’s stepmother was so jealous of her stepdaughter’s beauty that she was determined to kill her. She made several attempts at this, and was ultimately unsuccessful. Hansel & Gretel were abandoned in the woods, more than once, after the stepmother convinced their father to assist her. The family was very poor and had nothing to eat. The stepmother was so concerned with her survival that she was willing to sacrifice the children so she could have the little food that was left. The children eventually found their way back home, which only made the stepmother angrier and determined to get rid of them. Cinderella was made to be a servant by her stepmother and stepsisters. The stepmother blatantly disrespected Cinderella while showing her own children preference. Rapunzel was given up to a witch, who became “like a mother” to her, in restitution for stealing rampions, out of the witch’s garden. The witch then kept her secluded from the world in a tower.

Fairy tales, such as the ones mentioned above, are not the only literature that depicts the stepmother archetype. In Greek mythology, Helle and his twin brother were hated by their stepmother, Ino. She plotted to get rid of the two children. (Helle) In another Greek myth, Theseus’ stepmother tried to poison him because of her jealousy. In addition, Hercules’ stepmother, Hera, hated him and his natural mother and went to great efforts to ensure his demise. In an Eastern Siberian tale, “Story of a Stepmother and her Stepdaughters,” “the stepmother had a violent dislike for her stepdaughter.” (Alin) A Russian folktale, “Vasilisa the Beautiful,” “Valisa was hated by the stepmother and stepsisters because she was so lovely and kind. They were jealous of her right from the start.”(Evetts-Secker 30-1) In a German folktale, “Mother Holle,” “the stepdaughter was hated by both mother and sister, even though she was generous and always willing to help.”(Evetts-Secker 22)

Traces of this archetype can be found in myths from all around the world, and not surprisingly, it still relevant today. Jeannine Hall Gailey, writer of contemporary poetry, draws upon mythological archetypes in her writings. In her poem “Step Mother, at the wedding,” Gailey draws upon the tales of Snow White and Hansel&Gretel. Her poem intertwines the two stories and makes identifiable references from each. Most recognizable is the reference to the poisonous apple, which the Queen, dressed as a country woman, lured Snow White into eating. Also easily identified is the reference to the bread crumbs which Hansel & Gretel drop along the path as they are lead into the forest. There are other references to these fairy tales, as well as some minor references to Cinderella.

Interestingly, Gailey presents the poem as a reflection of a stepmother’s frustration in dealing with children that are not biologically hers. She is presented in such a way to make her seem more human. The last line of her poem sheds light into the heart of the stepmother’s anger. Gailey writes, “I say, make room for the new.”(Gailey 24) This phrase is key in determining a stepmother’s motivation behind her cruelty and jealousy. It contrast to most myths, in which the children are represented as the victims, this poem gives the stepmother’s perspective.

This evil representation of the stepmother has not really changed over time. A more recent piece of literature that contains this archetype is the popular Harry Potter books. Harry Potter’s “guardians” lock him underneath the stairs and allow him to be taunted by their natural son. This is “representative of the ‘bad’ parent who frighteningly and uncontrollably replaces the ‘good’ parent.” (Berstein) Although Harry Potter’s guardians are not technically stepparents, they still represent the idea of being replacement parent.

It is unfortunate that the stepmother is presented in this manner. Being a stepmother is difficult enough without having this added stigma to overcome. In reality, though, this consistent representation of the stepmother, by different cultures in different time periods, is what makes the stepmother a mythological archetype.

Works Cited Alin, Mary. __Anadyr Tales.__ Story of a Stepmother and her Stepdaughters. Bernstein, Richard. __The Reality of the Fantasy in the Harry Potter Stories__. Evetts-Secker, Josephine. __Mother and Daughter Tales__. New York: Abbeville Press.1996 Gailey, Jeannine Hall. __Female Comic Book Superheroes__. Columbus: Pudding House Publications. 2005 Helle. Retrieved June 22, 2006 from [|www.wilkipedia.com]. SarLaLune Fairy Tales. Retrieved June 22, 2006 from [|www.surlalunefairytales.com].